Summary
A process orientation is contrasted with a goals approach in being fundamentally concerned with internal operations. A goals orientation attempts to relate programs to outcome accomplishments. In mental health, processes such as number of patients served, staff-to-patient ratios, etc., are distinguished from programs with goals that are oriented to reducing admission rates, or accomplishing independent community living for the patients, etc. A process-goals error is indicated when internal processes are targeted for change exclusive of broad community outcome measures. Goal setting, assessment and program monitoring procedures are discussed, including the steps necessary to undertake these.
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Content of this paper is based in part upon the symposium, “Goal-Directed Approaches to Community Mental Health: Outcome Versus Process Orientation”, at the APA Convention, Miami Beach, Florida, 1970, at which the author served as Chairman
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Burgess, J.H. Goals versus process orientation policy in community mental health. Soc Psychiatry 10, 9–13 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579859
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579859